Lions get five and trade Whyte on Draft day

The BC Lions Football Club started the 2011 Canadian Draft with a bang by completing a six-pick swap with the Calgary Stampeders and finished with one too as they shipped kicker Sean Whyte to the Montreal Alouettes.

Moving down the draft ladder from third overall to sixth overall as a result of their first maneuver, the Leos still managed to snag highly-coveted Harvard receiver Marco Iannuzzi with their first pick and followed that up by selecting kicker Hugh O’Neill out of the University of Alberta in the second round.

With their final three selections, the Lions welcomed University of Maryland defensive back Michael Carter, Sherbrooke offensive lineman Yannick Sage and St. Mary’s defensive lineman Chris Hodgson.

“This is a great day for our club, our fans and for five young men who have very bright football futures ahead of them,” said Lions’ GM and head coach, Wally Buono.

Following the Draft, the Lions shipped kicker Sean Whyte to the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for the Als’ first round selection in the 2012 CFL Draft.

“Sean deserves an opportunity to become a fulltime kicker in the CFL and he will get that in Montreal,” added Buono.